DUI summit touts prevention tactics for cities

Feb. 28, 2013

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Marilyn Ellis, mother of Kimberly Ellis, who was killed in a DUI crash in 1997 at the age of 22, receives a hug from Todd Spitzer Wednesday morning following her speech during the Orange County DUI Summit at Concordia University in Irvine. MARK RIGHTMIRE, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Todd Spitzer, Orange County supervisor for the Third District, holds a graphic concerning DUI as he speaks during the Orange County DUI Summit Wednesday morning at Concordia University in Irvine. MARK RIGHTMIRE, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Attendees at the Orange County DUI Summit listen to a speaker in the auditorium at Concordia University in Irvine Wednesday morning. MARK RIGHTMIRE, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Wearing a button with the photo of her daughter, Marilyn Ellis, mother of Kimberly Ellis, who was killed in a DUI crash in 1997 at the age of 22, speaks Wednesday morning during the Orange County DUI Summit at Concordia University in Irvine. MARK RIGHTMIRE, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Attendees sit in the auditorium at Concordia University in Irvine during the Orange County DUI Summit Wednesday morning. MARK RIGHTMIRE, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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As a photo of her daughter is shown on the screens of the auditorium, Marilyn Ellis, mother of Kimberly Ellis, who was killed in a DUI crash in 1997 at the age of 22, speaks Wednesday morning during the Orange County DUI Summit at Concordia University in Irvine. MARK RIGHTMIRE, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Supervisor Todd Spitzer, right, looks up at a video presentation during the Orange County DUI Summit Wednesday morning at Concordia University in Irvine. MARK RIGHTMIRE, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A Orange County DUI Task Force pin on the lapel of Phillip Falcetti at the Orange County DUI Summit at Concordia University in Irvine Wednesday. MARK RIGHTMIRE, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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James Mosher, an alcohol policy specialist, speaks during the Orange County DUI Summit Wednesday morning at Concordia University in Irvine. MARK RIGHTMIRE, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Belle Solis, affiliate executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving Orange County, speaks during the Orange County DUI Summit Wednesday morning at Concordia University in Irvine. MARK RIGHTMIRE, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Gregg Hanour, former owner of the Shark Club in Costa Mesa and author of "A Business Approach to Reducing Drunk Driving," speaks during the Orange County DUI Summit Wednesday morning at Concordia University in Irvine. MARK RIGHTMIRE, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Marilyn Ellis, mother of Kimberly Ellis, who was killed in a DUI crash in 1997 at the age of 22, receives a hug from Todd Spitzer Wednesday morning following her speech during the Orange County DUI Summit at Concordia University in Irvine.MARK RIGHTMIRE, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

IRVINE – A DUI fatality statistic is not just a number on a page. It is a human being: A daughter, a son, a parent, a teacher, a friend.

That set the tone of the Orange County DUI Summit at Concordia University on Wednesday, and it came from Marilyn Ellis, mother of Kimberly Ellis, who was killed by a drunken driver at age 22 in 1997.

"We can talk statistics, but these statistics are people with families and friends, and the feeling never goes away of loss," said Ellis, a Mothers Against Drunk Driving volunteer and an advocate against DUI.

The summit, hosted by the Orange County DUI Task Force, focused on building "uniformity and continuity" among each city to organize "Orange County Best Practices for DUI Prevention." It was suggested that city leaders and organizations apply these programs and educational tools.

"This is an enforcement seminar," Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer said. "What I hope we are all going to take away is that we are all in this together."

Spitzer said that in 2011, 29 percent of county fatalities and severe injuries in traffic collisions involved alcohol. Although this percentage is the lowest it has been in five years for Orange County, it is higher than the state average of 27 percent.

For the first time this year, Orange County DUI statistics will be incorporated in the annual Community Indicators Reports, said Spitzer. The DUI Task Force is available to monitor those statistics and DUI prevention efforts.

David Doucette, the assistant director of operations with the California Office of Traffic Safety, also put the statistics into perspective when addressing Orange County about its DUI arrest rankings.

During his fatality and DUI arrest presentation, Doucette cited Laguna Beach for what he called its high number of DUI arrests. With a population of 22,755, Laguna Beach made 468 DUI arrests in 2010.

This means that compared with other cities, more establishments and restaurants in Laguna Beach are serving excess alcohol to drivers, said Spitzer.

To deter DUI arrests, prevention tactics and more educationfor the community and establishments that serve alcohol were suggested.

Prevention options

•Social host ordinance: Used to enforce the prevention of underage drinking at social gatherings in a home or private location. The first offense penalty for this violation may be up to $750 and can be issued in conjunction with a loud party notice to address multiple complaints to parties and gatherings. Currently used in the cities of Irvine and Mission Viejo.

•Conditional use permits: Focuses on how alcohol is made available in retail settings taking the type, distance, amount and location into consideration.

•Responsible beverage service programs: Focuses on the development and execution of management policies that reduce the risk of serving to minors. By exercising these programs, servers will receive regular, high-quality training and management support in not serving intoxicated persons.

•DUI educational campaigns: Campaigns can include DUI checkpoints, public service announcements, billboards, brochure distribution and press events. Campaigns will be effective if they are well planned and executed, are used with other strategies including law enforcement, policy and laws, use relevant and high-quality messaging and encourage discussions.

•Operators permit: This permit is meant for the operators of a business or alcohol retailer, not for the owner. Permits are controlled by the chief of police. Newport Beach Deputy Chief David W. McGill described the permit as an "additional layer" to the conditional use permit to enforce closing times, noise levels, extra security staff and facility closure. Helps control the excess serving of alcohol to intoxicated persons. Currently used in Newport Beach.

•Enforcement of over-serving laws: Enforces the prevention of over-serving alcohol to customers. Discussed by Gregg Hanour, good alcohol practices consultant and author of "A Business Approach to reducing Drunk Driving."

•Proper evaluation of drinking establishments: The cities can regulate and change the way they communicate the expectations of new applicants who wish to offer alcohol to customers. Discussed by Gregg Hanour.

Plan for action

Each city, county department and organization will be sent a letter from the DUI Task Force addressing the "5 Best Practices for DUI Prevention" discussed during the discussion as well as the need to review and adopt these practices. Data presented at the OC DUI Summit is meant to help cities and organizations better understand and use the DUI prevention tactics.

Once the letter and materials are reviewed, cities are encouraged to designate one person on the City Council to lead DUI prevention efforts, put the DUI prevention issues on the City Council agenda and hold discussions at a meeting.

Contact the writer: Upon request, a representative from the DUI Task Force representative can schedule a presentation at a City Council meeting.

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